The Swedish Disability Rights Federation is the united voice of the Swedish disability movement. We inform public opinion about disabilities related matters. Further we act as a referral body in relation to the government, the parliament and national authorities. The federation was founded 1942 and consists today of 53 national disability organisations with about 400 000 individual members.

The basis for all work at the Swedish Disability Rights Federation is the principle of equal value of all people and everybody´s right to self-determination and full participation in society. Our vision is a society for all, characterized by solidarity, equality and participation. Our goals are based on the UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities, CRPD. To achieve this, political initiatives are required in many fields; medical care, support services, education and training, labor market policy, physical planning, culture and information.

The Swedish Disability Rights Federation:

• Is a member of the government’s disability council.
• Is a member of official governmental inquiry committees.
• Is the referral body for governmental inquiry committees.
• Has extensive informal contact with governmental officials, groups and committees.

Cooperation on a European level

The Swedish Disability Rights Federation is a member of the European Disability Forum (EDF), an umbrella organisation representing 80 million people with disabilities in Europe. The EDF protects the human rights of people with disabilities through dialogue with European institutions and other European authorities. EDF website www.edf-feph.org

We are also a member of the European Patiens Forum (EPF). EPF is an umbrella organisation that works with patients’ groups in public health and health advocacy across Europe. EPFs members represent specific chronic disease groups at EU level or are national coalitions of patients. EPF website

Presidents´ committee

Five times a year the presidents of the national disability organisations in the umbrella meet to discuss and decide on important disability related policy questions and organisational matters. Every second year the meetings constitutes the General Assembly.

Board

The Board of The Swedish Disability Rights Federation prepares the meetings and proposals for decisions on behalf of the Presidents’. The Board also has the power to decide on behalf of the Swedish Disability Rights Federation when the Presidents’ committee are not convened.

Chairman of the board

The Chairman of the Board is elected by the general assembly, and is also a full member of the Presidents’ committee, which he chairs. He has the right to make statements on the behalf of the Swedish Disability Rights Federation but is obliged to report to the Presidents’ committee.

Political networks

Most of the political work in the Swedish Disability Rights Federation is prepared in networks where each of the member organization is represented.

Regional and local federations

In all counties and most municipalities there are associations of local disability organizations. They are organized in approximately the same way as the Swedish Disability Rights Federation.

How is the Federation funded?

The Swedish Disability Rights Federation is funded by:

• Membership fees from all member organizations.
• Financial support from the state. All Swedish national disability organizations receive financial support through the national budget, decided by Parliament.
• Project funding.

Read more about The Swedish Disability Rights Federation